Minutes of Proceedings

The Assembly met at 10.30am, the Speaker in the Chair.

1. Personal Prayer or Meditation

Members observed two minutes’ silence.

2. Public Petition

2.1 Public Petition – Save Exploris, the Northern Ireland Aquarium, Portaferry

Mr Kieran McCarthy was granted leave, in accordance with Standing Order 22, to present a Public Petition entitled ‘Save Exploris, the Northern Ireland Aquarium, Portaferry’.

3. Executive Committee Business

3.1 Statement - Appointment of the Chair of the Child Sexual Exploitation Inquiry

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Mr Edwin Poots, made a statement regarding the Appointment of the Chair of the Child Sexual Exploitation Inquiry, following which he replied to questions.

3.2 Motion – Fishing Boats (Satellite-Tracking Devices) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2013

Proposed:

That the Fishing Boats (Satellite - Tracking Devices) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2013 be approved.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

3.3 Motion – The draft Pharmacy (1976 Order) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013

Proposed:

That the draft Pharmacy (1976 Order) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 be approved.

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

4. Committee Business

4.1 Motion - Extension of Committee Stage: The Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill (NIA Bill 26/11-15)

Proposed:

That, in accordance with Standing Order 33(4), the period referred to in Standing Order 33(2) be extended to 11 April 2014, in relation to the Committee Stage of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill (NIA Bill 26/11-15).

Chairperson, Committee for Justice

The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

4.2 Motion - Report of the Committee Review Group on the Review of the Committee System

Proposed:

That this Assembly approves the report of the Committee Review Group entitled Review of the Committee System (NIA 135/11-15).

Mr A Maskey
Mr P McGlone
Ms A Lo
Mr R Swann
Miss M McIlveen

Debate ensued.

The Question being put, the Motion was carried without division.

5. Private Members’ Business

5.1 Motion – Ban on Blood Donations from Gay Men

Proposed:

That this Assembly notes the ruling of the High Court on the decision to ban blood donations from gay men; further notes with concern that the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's decision was found to be 'irrational', and to have been taken 'in breach of the Ministerial Code'; and calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to lift the ban and outline what steps he will take to build public confidence in relation to statutory equality duties.

Ms M McLaughlin
Mr M Brady
Ms C Ruane

5.2 Amendment 1

Proposed:

After second ‘ban’ insert:

‘from gay men who have been sexually inactive for more than twelve months’

Mr R Beggs
Mr S Gardiner

5.3 Amendment 2

Proposed:

At end insert:

‘or resign if he feels unable to do so.’

Mr S Agnew

Debate ensued.

The sitting was suspended at 12.30pm.

The sitting resumed at 2.00pm, with the Deputy Speaker (Mr Beggs) in the Chair.

6. Question Time

6.1 Education

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister of Education, Mr John O’Dowd.

6.2 Employment and Learning

Questions were put to, and answered by, the Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr Stephen Farry.

The Speaker took the Chair.

7. Private Members’ Business (Cont’d)

7.1 Motion – Ban on Blood Donations from Gay Men

Debate resumed on the Motion.

The Question being put, Amendment No. 1 was carried without division.

The Question being put, Amendment No. 2 was carried without division.

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried without division.

7.2 Motion – Exploris – Northern Ireland Aquarium

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the regional significance of Exploris - the Northern Ireland Aquarium in terms of tourism, culture, science, education and environmental protection; recognises its importance to the economy on the Ards Peninsula and across Northern Ireland; calls upon Ards Borough Council, working with the local community and businesses, to formulate urgently a coherent plan for investment and financial support; calls upon the relevant Ministers to offer assistance in developing a plan; and further calls on the Executive to respond quickly and positively to such a proposal, with a view to ensuring this facility has a sustainable basis.

Mr K McCarthy
Ms A Lo
Mr S Dickson

7.3 Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after the second ‘Northern Ireland;’ and insert:

‘and calls on the relevant Executive Departments to provide the regional funding, resource and support required by Ards Borough Council to maximise the benefit of Exploris to the economy of the Ards Peninsula and to Northern Ireland.'

Mr M Nesbitt
Ms S Overend

Debate ensued.

The Deputy Speaker (Mr Dallat) took the Chair.

The Question being put, the Amendment was made (Division 1).

The Question being put, the Motion, as amended, was carried (Division 2).

8. Adjournment

Mr Tom Buchanan spoke to his topic regarding Justice for Derg Valley Victims Voice.

Proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

The Speaker

The Assembly adjourned at 8.08pm.

Mr William Hay
The Speaker
5 November 2013

Northern Ireland Assembly

5 November 2013

Division 1

Motion – Exploris – Northern Ireland Aquarium – Amendment

Proposed:

Leave out all after the second ‘Northern Ireland;’ and insert:

‘and calls on the relevant Executive Departments to provide the regional funding, resource and support required by Ards Borough Council to maximise the benefit of Exploris to the economy of the Ards Peninsula and to Northern Ireland.'

Mr M Nesbitt
Ms S Overend

The Question was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 45
Noes: 38

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mr Copeland, Mrs Dobson, Mr Eastwood, Mr Elliott, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hazzard, Mr Hussey, Mrs D Kelly, Mr Lynch, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr B McCrea, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan,Mr A Maginness, Mr Milne, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mrs O'Neill, Mrs Overend, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Nesbitt and Mrs Overend

NOES

Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Clarke, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Craig, Mr Dickson, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Dr Farry, Mr Ford, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Dickson and Mr G Robinson

The Amendment was made. 

Northern Ireland Assembly

5 November 2013

Division 2

Motion – Exploris – Northern Ireland Aquarium

Proposed:

That this Assembly acknowledges the regional significance of Exploris — the Northern Ireland Aquarium in terms of tourism, culture, science, education and environmental protection; recognises its importance to the economy on the Ards peninsula and across Northern Ireland; and calls on the relevant Executive Departments to provide the regional funding, resource and support required by Ards Borough Council to maximise the benefit of Exploris to the economy of the Ards peninsula and to Northern Ireland.

The Question, as amended, was put and the Assembly divided.

Ayes: 52
Noes: 31

AYES

Mr Agnew, Mr Allister, Mr Attwood, Mr Beggs, Mr Boylan, Ms Boyle, Mr D Bradley, Mr Brady, Mr Byrne, Mrs Cochrane, Mr Copeland, Mr Dickson, Mrs Dobson, Mr Eastwood, Mr Elliott, Dr Farry, Ms Fearon, Mr Flanagan, Mr Ford, Mr Gardiner, Mr Hazzard, Mr Hussey, Mrs D Kelly, Ms Lo, Mr Lunn, Mr Lynch, Mr F McCann, Ms J McCann, Mr McCarthy, Mr McCartney, Ms McCorley, Mr B McCrea, Dr McDonnell, Mr McElduff, Ms McGahan, Mr McGlone, Mr McKay, Mrs McKevitt, Mr McKinney, Ms Maeve McLaughlin, Mr McMullan, Mr A Maginness, Mr Milne, Mr Nesbitt, Ms Ní Chuilín, Mr Ó hOisín, Mrs O'Neill, Mrs Overend, Mr Rogers, Ms Ruane, Mr Sheehan, Mr Swann.

Tellers for the Ayes: Mr Nesbitt and Mrs Overend

NOES

Mr Anderson, Mr Bell, Ms P Bradley, Ms Brown, Mr Buchanan, Mr Clarke, Mr Craig, Mr Douglas, Mr Dunne, Mr Easton, Mr Frew, Mr Girvan, Mr Givan, Mrs Hale, Mr Hamilton, Mr Hilditch, Mr Humphrey, Mr Irwin, Mr McCausland, Mr I McCrea, Mr D McIlveen, Miss M McIlveen, Mr Moutray, Mr Newton, Mr Poots, Mr G Robinson, Mr P Robinson, Mr Ross, Mr Spratt, Mr Storey, Mr Weir.

Tellers for the Noes: Mr Clarke and Mr G Robinson

The Motion, as amended was carried. 

Northern Ireland Assembly

Papers Presented to the Assembly on
5 November 2013

1. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

2. Bills of the Northern Ireland Assembly

3. Orders in Council

4. Publications Laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly

Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service Trust Fund Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2013 (DHSSPS)

5. Assembly Reports

6. Statutory Rules

S. R. 2013/257 The Traffic Signs (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (DRD)

For Information Only:

7. Written Ministerial Statements

8. Consultation Documents

9. Departmental Publications

10. Agency Publications

11. Westminster Publications

12. Miscellaneous Publications

Northern Ireland Assembly Legislation:

Stages in Consideration of Public Bills

First Stage: Introduction of Bill.

Second Stage: General debate of the Bill with an opportunity for Members to vote on its general principles.

Committee Stage (Comm. Stage): Detailed investigation by a Committee which concludes with the publication of a report for consideration by the Assembly.

Consideration Stage (CS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, the details of the Bill including amendments proposed to the Bill.

Further Consideration Stage (FCS): Consideration by the Assembly of, and an opportunity for Members to vote on, further amendments to the Bill.

Final Stage: Passing or rejecting of Bill by the Assembly, without further amendment.

Royal Assent.

Proceedings as at 6 November 2013

2011-2015 Mandate
Executive Bills

2011-2015 Mandate
Non-Executive Bills

/ Bill progressing by accelerated passage

** Please note that any bills that received Royal Assent in the previous session have been removed from the table.